exactly; precisely; closely; tightly; properly; without fail
to follow (someone) around; to cling (to); to dog; to hound; to harry; to pursue
assembly hall; meeting place; venue; site; grounds
to be noisy; to be astir; to rustle; to murmur
straight; straightforward; direct; straight (wins, sets, etc.); straight (liquor); neat; entering university right after graduating high school
real thing; original; actual
smallish; on the small side
extra; more; unnecessary; needless; all the more; even more
remarkable; striking; obvious
at every opportunity; for each and every thing that crops up; with every little thing; whenever possible; whenever the chance arises; at every turn
to be added to; to be appended; to join in (e.g. a group of friends); to participate; to increase (e.g. heat); to gain in (e.g. influence)
courtesy call; going around to say hello (or goodbye) to everybody; making the rounds
sentence-ending particle expressing doubt; sentence-ending particle expressing a rhetorical question
mental; spiritual; emotional
splendor; splendour; gorgeousness; showiness; gaudiness; extravagance
to erase; to drown out (e.g. a voice); to make disappear
standoffishly; primly; pungently (of a smell); acridly; long and pointed (e.g. of a nose); popping (of ears)
to clear; to make clear; to be unruffled; to look unconcerned; to look demure; to look prim
guest; visitor; customer; client; counter for containers used to entertain guests
concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention; concentration (of population, buildings, power, etc.); centralization; within a collection of works
to lay bare; to expose; to reveal
(the) mainstream; main course (of a river); main stream
to play an instrument (esp. string instruments); to dance
to dance (orig. a hopping dance); to be manipulated; to dance to someone's tune
very popular; highly favoured
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
obstacle; impediment; disability; handicap; steeplechase; obstacle race
to disdain; to look down on; to make light of; to hold in contempt; to scorn; to despise
hostility; animosity; enmity
to go around; to make a circle around; to surround; to circle; to come around (of a season, anniversary, turn, etc.); to return
contest; competition; struggle; scramble
opening performance; opening act; curtain raiser; minor performer; minor storyteller; subordinate part
it is ... that ...; precisely; although; while; it is precisely because ... that ...; only because ...
main performer; star performer; headliner; rakugo storyteller of the highest rank
to step on; to tread on; to set foot on (e.g. foreign soil); to stand on; to experience; to undergo; to follow (rules, principles, etc.)
if I (we, etc.) could; if one were to ... then ... (an unpleasant thing would happen)
glamorous; charming; fascinatingly elegant; lovely; gorgeous; beguiling
composition; piece of music; tune; melody; enjoyment; fun
lead; leading; leading (in points, goals, etc.); getting ahead; lead (from a base); lead (of an article); lede